Kwanger

In early January my daughter and I will be flying back to the US from Gatwick in Y; a close friend will now also be joining us on that trip. I'm OWE, so usual drill would have been to go to the F lounge....but two guests is a no-no. I'd like for my very rarely flying friend to experience the lounge but obviously, I'd not leave my daughter out. Options I can think of:

1: Give my friend my boarding pass and he can go in with my daughter pretending to be me (while I take one for the team and mooch round the terminal); she can show him the ropes having been in many times previously. I know its not really cricket, but I've never been asked for any further ID in when the pass grants access, and he's hardly likely to drink the bar dry and go on a gremlins style rampage so can't see it being a biggie.
2: See if I could find a kindly lounge-goer would guest my friend in....although I know that's also a bit cheeky.
3. Guest my friend in then come back out and walk round terminal with teenage lounge-loving daughter (and thus incur her wrath lol).

What would you all do?

PUCCI GALORE

I’d go in the Lounge with my daughter and let him go to the Gate. I thoroughly disapprove of « guesting » by strangers and so does British Airways. There is a Facebook blog where they are always cadging Lounge entry. I do not belong but a friend has shown me this. It is my understanding that anyone caught guesting people that they do not know are subject to sanctions as there has been trouble in the past. I think that you will find that the very geography of the FLounge at Gatwick would make guesting in and leaving could be done but be aware. That you are responsible for him all the time that he is there. Asking at the door is an embarrassment for Lounge Staff in my view.

There is an alternative and that is for nobody to go to the Lounge at all. I am sorry to sound so negative but whilst you are entitled to go in with a guest I’m afraid that it definitely it is a situation where two’s company three’s a crowd.

acearchie

If you're really keen to all get in you could see if anyone else will be travelling on the same day through https://ba97.com/calendar.asp and is open to guesting one of your party in.

drwook

Yeah I'd either not split the party and all mooch around the terminal, or head to the lounge with the daughter.

NWIFlyer

As a OWE, given AA's attitude to fraud (e.g. their persuance of hidden city itineraries) ... well, let's just say I probably wouldn't be chancing option 1. Whilst it's pretty unlikely BA would question your ID and then pass that information to AA, I'm not sure it's worth it over a single favour for a friend.

Whilst technically your guest should leave with you, if you trusted them then option 3 carries essentially zero risk.

LHR-HUB

What age is the teenage daughter?

I’ve had similar in the past when travelling with my son and wife, and my wife has always been happy if I take my GC and my son to the lounge, and she takes the BA Amex off to Chanel and Jo Malone.

orbitmic

I agree, I think any friend would understand that daughter takes priority, and many people would be mortified at the idea of weird gymnastics to try and cheat the entry rules or beg for them. Alternatively, just invite both for a drink in one of the many cafes in the terminal or if you are desperate for a lounge buy No1 lounge entry for all three of you in advance.

Kwanger

That actually may be the way....she's always loved the lounges but now 17, she might well be persuaded by the Amex and shopping

Kwanger

Not that desperate!

Kwanger

Fair enough. Yeah, I've heard of FB groups etc....not interested in them. This is just a one off circumstance. Shame BA doesn't have the QR style lounge passes; they would be ideal for this situation (although would not apply either in this case being as my access comes via AA).

PUCCI GALORE

My Dear - may they never do this. The Lounges are heaving with people as it is.

JapesUK

That may be the most expensive lounge access ever experienced!

LHR-HUB

Think of the avios!

Joshm300

It’s never an easy one, but I have a few friends I regularly travel with and my policy, if travelling as a three, is always to take the person who hasn’t been before through the first wing to experience it and grab a quick champagne. Usually as travelling in Europe, we liberate a beer each for the flight (and one for the third man), plus make them G&T in a coffee cup as a consolation prize and then join them at spoons.

acearchie

Now this is travelling in style. I like your thinking 👍